The Fresno County Sheriff Office would like to provide an update to its ongoing investigation into last Friday’s natural gas explosion. The blast occurred at the Fresno County Sheriff’s Foundation Gun Range and initially sent 11 people to local hospitals with various injuries.
As of Monday, six people remain hospitalized at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno. Five of the injured are Fresno County Jail inmates. Three are listed in critical, but stable condition and the other two are listed in stable condition. One Fresno County Department of Public Works employee is also listed in critical, but stable condition.
Here is a recap of the events. At approximately 2:30 pm Friday, Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies reported that a natural gas line exploded and multiple people had suffered burns.
An employee of the Fresno County Public Works Department was operating a front end loader (tractor) along a dirt road, which runs above and behind the six shooting ranges. This was a project to build up the dirt berm that captures the bullets that are fired during range qualifications. Contrary to published reports, there are no witnesses reporting that digging or excavating was taking place at the time of the explosion. The operator was using the loader’s bucket to spread piles of soil. As the loader was driving on the dirt road, a gas line ruptured and a fire was ignited near range six. The flames from the fire extended approximately 100 feet into the sky. The cause is unknown at this time.
A crew of Fresno County Jail inmates, who were performing cleanup duties in nearby range four, suffered injuries. Two FSO deputies assigned to the training unit at the range, at great risk of injury to themselves, entered the dangerous area to help get the inmates and county worker to a safe location. Sheriff deputies, American Ambulance personnel, Fresno Firefighters, Fresno Police officers, California Highway Patrol officers, Eagle 1 (Sheriff’s helicopter) and H40 (CHP helicopter) responded to the emergency. PG&E workers also came out immediately to shut off the leaking gas line.
H40 landed near the San Joaquin River to pick-up an inmate who was critically injured and flew him to Community Regional Medical Center.
Amazingly, the tractor operator was able to walk over to an ambulance and from there was transported to the hospital.
The two deputies involved in the rescue efforts were later treated at the hospital for complaints of smoke inhalation, ringing ears and sunburn like injuries.
Some questions have been raised as to why jail inmates were at the range that day. It is standard procedure for the Sheriff’s Office to utilize minimum security, sentenced inmates for work detail at the range. Under the direct supervision of deputies, they perform manual labor such as picking up trash, weed abatement, mining spent bullets out of the dirt, collecting brass shell casings and setting up shooting targets. The inmate work crews are used for this purpose as well as graffiti abatement, community clean ups, washing patrol cars, simple maintenance and painting at various locations throughout Fresno County.
The gun range has been used by most Fresno County law enforcement agencies since 1962 and inmates have regularly been used for maintenance at this location. Also, over the years Fresno County Public Works has been used to complete this same type of work necessary to support this core function of law enforcement operations.
The Fresno County Department of Public Works did not notify Underground Service Alert (USA) prior to beginning its job with the loader because there were never any plans to dig or excavate the area.
The gun range remains closed. A time frame for reopening the facility has not been established. This case continues to have individual investigations being conducted by members of the Sheriff’s Office, PG&E, CPUC and Fresno Fire. It will take an extended period of time for an official cause to be determined.
It’s important to note that the California Public Utilities Commission is the lead investigative agency. All questions related to engineering and technical aspects of the incident should be directed to the CPUC. All inquiries regarding Fresno County departments should be directed to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
***Below is the original article released on April 17, 2015***
At approximately 2:30 pm Friday, Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies reported that a natural gas line exploded and multiple people had suffered burns. The explosion occurred at the gun range owned and operated by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Foundation, which is located at 7633 N. Weber Ave. in Fresno. A total of 11 people were injured and transported to local hospitals.
An employee of the Fresno County Public Works Department was operating a front end loader (tractor) along a dirt road, which runs above and behind the six shooting ranges. This was day one of a project to build up the dirt berm that captures the bullets that are fired during range qualifications. As the loader was driving on that dirt road, a gas line ruptured and exploded near range six. The flames from the fire extended approximately 100 feet into the sky. A crew of Fresno County Jail inmates, who were performing cleanup duties in nearby range four, suffered injuries. Sheriff deputies working at the range quickly helped take the injured men out of the area to responding medics. Sheriff deputies, American Ambulance personnel, Fresno Firefighters, Fresno Police officers, California Highway Patrol officers, Eagle 1 (Sheriff’s helicopter) and H40 (CHP helicopter) responded to the emergency. PG&E workers also came out immediately to shut off the leaking gas line.
H40 landed near the San Joaquin River to pick-up an inmate who was critically injured and flew him to Community Regional Medical Center.
Amazingly, the tractor operator who was also critically hurt, was able to walk over to an ambulance and from there was transported to the hospital.
The eight other inmates were taken by ambulance to other local hospitals, including Madera and St. Agnes.
Two deputies assigned to the training unit at the range, at great risk of injury to themselves, entered the dangerous area to help get the inmates and county worker to a safe location. Those deputies were later treated for complaints of ringing ears and sunburn like injuries.
CHP also closed off the north and southbound lanes of Highway 99 between Avenue 7 and Highway 180 for an extended period of time in order to alleviate traffic congestion in the immediate area.
At this time, PG&E investigators are working to determine the cause of the gas explosion. All questions regarding the gas line, markings, etc. should be directed to PG&E officials.
Despite the damage at the Sheriff’s range, the facility should still have the ability to be utilized for training next week.
